I-VII 08:00 – 20:00
Quick verdict: Drive On Holidays at Porto Airport (OPO) is a well-rated Portuguese local operator with DiscoverCars 9/10, Auto Europe 8.5/10 value-for-money score, and 691+ Trustpilot reviews. The Porto branch sits within the OPO airport rental area with a quick shuttle, and the family-business approach earns consistent praise for friendly staff, fast pickup and competitive pricing. The main complaint pattern (clutch failures, occasional undisclosed insurance charges) puts Drive On Holidays in the upper-mid tier — better than budget operators but with a few quirks to know about. This 2026 guide covers the Drive On Holidays Porto experience, prices, fleet and how it compares to local OPO alternatives like Guerin and Klass Wagen.
Drive On Holidays is a Portuguese family rental brand operating since the early 2010s with offices in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Albufeira and Funchal. The Porto branch serves OPO airport via a free shuttle to the Maia industrial-area lot (5-8 minutes from arrivals). The brand built its reputation on value-for-money pricing and friendly staff — the 8.5/10 Auto Europe average reflects strong customer satisfaction outside the budget-operator complaint pattern.
| DiscoverCars rating | 9 / 10 (Porto location) |
| Auto Europe value-for-money | 8.5 / 10 (810+ reviews) |
| Trustpilot rating | ~3.5/5 (691+ reviews, mostly positive) |
| Pickup location | OPO off-airport via free shuttle (5-8 min from terminal) |
| Headline price (economy) | From 18 EUR/day ($19), low season |
| Realistic out-the-door | 25 to 32 EUR/day with third-party excess |
| Summer peak | 40 to 60 EUR/day (Porto demand is lower than Algarve) |
| Counter pressure | Low — staff praised for friendliness, not aggressive upsell |
Plan 45 to 70 minutes from plane landing to driving away during peak hours — faster than Goldcar but slightly longer than on-airport Guerin or Klass Wagen.
After baggage claim, exit OPO arrivals and look for the Drive On Holidays branded shuttle (some travelers report waiting at the wrong bus stop; the official stop is to the right of the main arrivals exit). The shuttle picks up every 10-15 minutes during operating hours, 5-8 minute ride to the office.
Bring booking voucher, lead driver passport or ID, credit card, and original driving licence (not a photocopy). Paperwork is typically 10-15 minutes — faster than budget operators because the office is purpose-built and the staff are well-trained.
Drive On Holidays pre-authorizes 700 to 1,500 EUR on credit card as a damage deposit (lower than Goldcar). The insurance discussion is informational, not pushy. If you have a third-party excess policy, mention it once and the agent moves on. Read the printed contract before signing — confirm no additional insurance items were added.
Walk around the car with the agent, joint note of any pre-existing marks, photo of dashboard fuel gauge. Take your own 60-90 second video. The dispute rate is low but the few 2026 complaints about post-return charges were all on cars without pickup video.
Headline rates from DiscoverCars, KAYAK and the Drive On Holidays direct booking site in May 2026.
Low season 18 to 24 EUR/day basic. With Drive On Holidays all-inclusive zero-excess 26 to 34 EUR/day. Summer peak 35 to 50 EUR/day. Pricing is competitive with Klass Wagen and Drivalia, and consistently below Guerin by 3-5 EUR/day.
Low season 26 to 36 EUR/day. Summer 48 to 68 EUR/day. The mid-size SUV is the comfort choice for a Douro Valley road trip — Drive On Holidays has good mid-size inventory.
All-inclusive zero-excess +8 to 14 EUR/day. Out-of-hours pickup (after 23:00) 30 EUR. Young driver (under 25) 6 to 8 EUR/day. Additional driver 4 EUR/day. SCUT toll administration 35 to 49 EUR per toll event without Via Verde (3 EUR/day add-on).
Insurance is calmly presented. The three options below cover the typical scenarios. The third-party excess combo is usually the cheapest total path.
8 to 14 EUR/day. Reduces excess to zero, covers windshield, tyres, glass, key replacement, undercarriage. Includes free additional driver. Comparable to Guerin Zero pricing.
5 to 8 EUR/day. Reduces excess to 300 to 500 EUR. Reasonable middle ground for short rentals.
RentalCover or Insurance4CarHire at 4 to 8 EUR/day, paired with Drive On Holidays base policy. Total cost typically 4 to 8 EUR/day cheaper than All-Inclusive alone. The base excess of 700 to 1,500 EUR is already low so the refund risk is manageable.
Drive On Holidays sits in the upper-mid tier at Porto Airport. The alternatives below are realistic comparisons.
On-airport counter at OPO arrivals (no shuttle), Trustpilot 3.5/5. Via Verde transponder included by default. Slightly more expensive than Drive On Holidays but faster pickup. Full Guerin review.
Portuguese operator open 24 hours at OPO Terminal — the only operator with round-the-clock pickup. Modern fleet, Trustpilot 3.4/5. Particularly valuable for late-night arrivals.
Greek-Cypriot budget operator with documented issues including 2,450 EUR deposit holds and off-road damage clauses. Cheaper headline than Drive On Holidays but typically similar out-the-door cost. Full Surprice review.
Cheapest headline at OPO but the worst customer-experience pattern. Counter upsells, premium-location fees, post-return damage charges. Goldcar survival playbook (same applies at OPO).
DiscoverCars shows Drive On Holidays alongside Guerin, Klass Wagen, Surprice and Goldcar with the same insurance options and live Trustpilot ratings. Sort by total price (not headline) for the realistic comparison.
Compare Porto Airport rentalsYes — for most travelers, Drive On Holidays Porto is a smart mid-tier choice. The DiscoverCars 9/10 rating reflects strong customer satisfaction at competitive pricing. The trade-off vs Guerin (on-airport, no shuttle) is a 5-8 minute shuttle ride and a 3-5 EUR/day savings. The trade-off vs budget operators (Goldcar, Surprice) is paying 6-12 EUR/day more for a much calmer experience. For business travelers prioritizing speed and corporate-grade processes, Hertz or Avis at 35+ EUR/day. For late-night arrivals, Klass Wagen 24-hour. For the absolute cheapest 1-day rental with full survival playbook, Goldcar.
Yes. Drive On Holidays is a Portuguese family rental brand headquartered in Lisbon, operating since the early 2010s with offices in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Albufeira and Funchal. Portuguese ownership, Portuguese staff at each branch.
The Porto branch is off-airport at the Maia industrial area parking lot. Free shuttle from OPO arrivals every 10-15 minutes during opening hours, 5-8 minute ride. The arrivals-area shuttle stop is to the right of the main arrivals exit. The branded shuttle is clearly marked “Drive On Holidays”.
Guerin is on-airport at OPO Terminal (no shuttle, faster pickup). Drive On Holidays is off-airport with a 5-8 minute shuttle, but typically 3-5 EUR/day cheaper. Both have similar Trustpilot ratings (Guerin 3.5/5, Drive On Holidays ~3.5/5). For a quick business trip, Guerin wins on speed. For a budget-conscious week-long holiday, Drive On Holidays wins on total cost.
Drive On Holidays blocks 700 to 1,500 EUR on the lead driver's credit card as a damage deposit. Some premium category vehicles may require up to 2,000 EUR. Plan for at least 2,500 EUR ($2,700) of available credit limit to be safe. Debit cards are accepted but release schedules are longer.
No — Via Verde is a 3 EUR/day add-on, not included by default. For any Porto rental where you plan to drive on A28, A41, A29 or A42 motorways, add Via Verde at the counter. Without it, the operator charges a 35 to 49 EUR administrative fee per toll event on top of the actual toll. A single Douro Valley day trip can produce 4-5 toll events.
Klass Wagen (Portuguese, Trustpilot 3.4/5, open 24 hours at OPO) is the closest match in pricing and quality. Guerin (Brisa Group, on-airport, Trustpilot 3.5/5) is the calm alternative without the shuttle. For premium predictability, Hertz or Sixt at OPO Terminal arrivals at 35-50 EUR/day. Avoid Goldcar and Surprice unless you understand the budget-operator survival playbook.
